529 



V- 



.R45 

Copy I 



PUBLIC DOCUMENT.] (Appendix.) [NO. 2. 



E. E P O H T 



PHYSICAL CONDITION 



RHODE ISLAND REGIMENTS, 

NOW IN THE FIELD, IN VIRGINIA AND IN THE VICINITY OF 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 



ALSO ON THE 



CONDITION OF THE HOSPITALS 

IN AND AROUND WASHINGTON : 

M/VDE TO HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR SPRAGUE, 

AND 

PRESENTED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 

JANUARY SESSION, A. D. 1863, 
BY LLOYD MORTON, M. ])., 

COMMISSIONEK. 



PROVIDENCE: 

ALFRED ANTHONY, PRINTER TO THE STATE, 

1863. 



m^U 0f fltoac i^tantl, &r. 



Adjutant General's Office, 
Providence, Dec. 1862. 



INSTRUCTIONS 



COMMISSION APPOINTED TO VISIT THE INVALIDS 
AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS. 



Dr. Lloyd Morton, (who will associate with him, Mrs. Albert 
Dailey,) is hereby appointed a Commission to proceed to Washington, 
on a tour of inspection, having in view the welfare of the sick and 
wounded soldiers in hospital or otherwise, belonging to Rhode Island 
Regiments. 

The Commission will be charged with the following duties : — 

1st. To procure from the Secretary of war, an order for the re- 
moval of sick and wounded Rhode Island soldiers to the United States 
Hospital at Portsmouth Grove, — similar to that given to Assistant 
Surgeon James Harris, dated July 6th, 1862, and directing the trans- 
fer of invalid and wounded soldiers to Providence. 

2d. To visit the United States Hospitals in and around the city 
of Wasington, and especially that in Alexandria, and wherever else 
Rhode Island soldiers may be situated, with the particular object of 
finding out their condition. The Commission will extend its investi- 
gation to all regiments in the field, (as far as practicable,) and make 



4 PUBLIC DOCUMENT. 

a report of each case to this Department, to be presented to the 
Legislature at its comino; Session. 

3(1. The Commission is particularly charged with the transfer to 
the hospital at Portsmouth Grove, of all wounded and invalid soldiers 
belonging to Rhode Island regiments, from the different hospitals as 
above directed ; and is ordered to perform this duty with the greatest 
care, having in view the comfort and welfare of the disabled. 

4th. To procure the discharge of every soldier found to be unfit- 
ted for farther service ; and, also, to cause the removal to said hospi- 
tal, of all those cases where health can be better restored within the 
State, and whose services will become sooner available to the govern- 
ment. 

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS TO DR. MORTON. 

Before entering upon your tour of medical and hospital duty, (con- 
cerning which you have been otherwise instructed,) except incident- 
ally, or, as it may lay in your route, to which these instructions 
carry you, you Avill proceed with all possible diligence and dispatch to 
Acquia Creek, on the Potomac River, and having obtained permission 
of General Burnside to enter his lines, you will at once do so, and 
will lose no time in visiting the 2d, 4th and 7th Regiments R. I. 
Infantry, and the several Batteries of the 1st R. I. Artilleiy, now 
comprising a portion of the "Army of the Potomac," and consisting 
of Batteries A, B, C, D, E, G and H ; and also the 1st Regiment 
R. I. Cavalry, also comprising a portion of said army. 

On reaching these regiments and batteries you will ascertain, by per- 
sonal inspection and careful inquiry, of privates as well as officers, what 
their present condition is, with reference to clothing and hospital stores ; 
whether the men have shoes, caps, shirts, drawers, coats or jackets, 
pants, blouses or over-coats, suitable for winter use, in the climate of 
Virginia ; what number are without either of these necessary articles ; 
how long they have been without them ; how recently others have 
been supplied with them ; and, especially, whether suffering has re- 
sulted, or is now resulting to Rhode Island soldiers, in consequence of 
neglect to furnish them with any of these articles. Should you find 
that such suffering has existed or does now exist, you will ascertain 
whether it is or was attributable in any degree, to the neglect of 
any officer of either of these regiments or batteries to make requisi- 
tions for supplies, or to make proper representations of the condition 
of their men to brigade or other superior officefs, and communicate 
the naine of any such Rhode Island officer in your report to me. 



INSTRUCTIONS TO COMMISSSTONEE. 5 

You will also inform yourself as to hospital stores which should 
belong to each regiment and battery, and the usual course taken in 
caring for the sick and wounded soldiers. 

You will also ascertain whether the men comprising these regiments 
and batteries, or any portion of them, have suffered or are now suf- 
fering for want of ivholesome food ; whether they have been obliged 
to subsist upon less than half rations, and if so, for how long a time, 
and under what circumstances. 

You will also ascertain, by inquiry of the proper officers, whether 
our soldiers are promptly paid by the Government as required by its 
regulations, and, if not, when they were last paid, to what time, and 
how long they may have had to serve at any time without payment. 

Having obtained this information, and made careftil memoranda of 
the same, you Avill communicate the same to this Department with 
all possible dispatch, and then enter upon the duties of your commis- 
sion. 

By order of the 

Commander-in-Chief. 
(Signed) EDWARD C. MAURAN, 

Adjutant General. 



REPORT 



PHYSICAL CONDITION OF THE KHODE ISLAND EEGIIENTS, 

NOW IN THE FIELD, IN VIRGINIA AND IN THE VICINITY 
OF WASHINGTON, &c. 



Agreeable to instructions received from the Adjutant General's of- 
fice, dated December, 1862, and marked, '•'•additional instructions,^^ 
after my arrival in Washington, I proceeded to Falmouth, Va., to 
visit the several regiments of infantiy, cavalry and artillery, raised 
and recruited in Rhode Island, and at once commenced the investi- 
gations as suggested in those additional instructions. 

On the night of my arrival at Falmouth, (the 18th of December, 
1862,) I visited the 7th Regiment, R. I. V., which I found encamped 
near Falmouth, in General Sumner's Division. The regiment had 
suffered severely at the battle of Fredericksburg, and as the list of the 
killed, wounded and missing of this regiment had been forwarded to 
the office of the Adjutant General of the State of Rhode Island, I 
did not deem it proper to send another list, but at once commenced to 
ascertain the physical condition of the regiment. 

Between five and six hundred men reported for duty, on that day. 
I could not ascertain the exact number, as the regiment was going 
out on picket duty that night, and everything was in a state of con- 
fusion. 

The regiment had not been paid off since leaving Rhode Island, 
though the muster and pay rolls had been sent in on the last of Oc- 
tober. 



8 PUBLIC DOCUMENT. 

The men were very well supplied Avith the necessary clothing for a 
carnj)aign in Virginia, during the winter season, with the exception o 
pantaloons and shoes, both of which Avere needed to some extent, not 
because correct requisitions had not been sent to the proper authori- 
ties, and the articles sent for issued to the regiment, but in conse- 
quence of the quality of the articles themsehes. A pair of shoes will not 
last more than four or five days on a march, and the pantaloons wear 
out in a very short time. The difference in the appearance of different 
men was very marked — some looked neat and tidy, Avhile others 
were in a shabby condition, Avhich must be attributed to the charac- 
ter of the men themselves, rather than to the issue of clothing. 

The rations were good and in sufficient quantity, and perhaps in as 
great a variety as the circumstances of the case would admit of. The 
men subsisted on half rations only on a march. 

The hospital department of this regiment was in as good a con- 
dition as it was possible for it to be, in the field, and immediately sub- 
sequent to an engagement. There was, however, a lack of medical 
officers. Dr. Harris being entirely alone. Assistant Surgeon Sprague 
was absent on furlough, sick, and Assistant Surgeon Gaylord was also 
absent on furlough, and had sent in his resignation. There was no 
difficulty experienced in obtaining the necessary medicines and hos- 
pital supplies. 

On Dec. 19th, I visited the 12th Regiment, R. I. V., which I found 
in the same brigade with the 7th, and encamped near by. This reg- 
iment had suffered severely in battle, and had sent to Rhode Island a 
list of their killed, wounded and missino;. Eight hundred and ten 
(810) men reported for duty that day, and I was informed the number 
was increasing daily, as those missing were continually coming in. 
The loss of this regiment will not be so gi'eat as at first supposed. 

This regiment had not been paid off since mustered into the service 
of the United States. 

The men were in very good condition as to clothing, with the 
exception of blankets, a great number of which had been lost or left 
upon the late battle-field. Requisitions for blankets have been sent 
forward. 

The rations issued to this regiment were good and in sufficient 
quantity. 

The hospital department was deficient in almost every article, and 
had been in that condition since leaving their camps near Washington. 
Still, I could not learn it could be attributed to the neglect of any 



PHYSICAL CONDITION OF THE R. I. TROOPS. 9 

officer of the regiment. Dr. Carpenter was alone in charge of this 
department, Assistant Surgeons King and Hutcliinson having been 
detailed to serve in the general hospital extemporized after the battle. 

On the same day, (the 19th of December,) I visited the 2d Regi- 
ment, R. I. v., in Franklin's Division. A list of their loss in battle 
had been sent to Rhode Island. Four hundred and eighty-one (481) 
men reported for duty that day. 

This regiment had recently been paid off, for a period of four 
months. A very little of their pay had been sent home, as most of 
the men had purchased boots of the sutlers at 810 per pair. 

The article of clothing most complained of, was that of shoes. No 
difficulty was experienced in obtaining them, but they were worthless 
when received, and, besides, would not fit. Most of the sizes sent 
were sevens and eights, while the sizes most needed were fives, sixes, 
elevens twelve, and thirteen^. The men sutfered severely for want 
of clothing while encamped at Downing's Hill, Oct. 21st. 

The rations issued to this regiment Avere good and in sufficient 
quantity. 

The hospital department was in very good condition, and there was 
but very little sickness among the men, attributed by the Surgeon, 
Dr, Carr, to the fact that the regiment had been sifted completely of 
its worthless material. 

Upon the whole, this regiment was in very good condition, and ap- 
peared equal to any I saw. 

One great complaint was made of the loss of recruits. A very large 
percentage of the recruits sent to the regiment, deserted before arriv- 
ing at the camp. 

On the following day (20tli Dec.) I saw the 4th Reg. R. I. V., 
which was encamped a short distance from the 2d, in Sumner's Divi- 
sion. The number of their loss in battle had been sent to Rhode 
Island. Four hundred and forty-eight (448) men reported for duty on 
that day. 

This regiment had not been paid since July last. The muster and 
pay rolls for August and September had not been sent in, because the 
blank rolls could not be obtained. 

Clothing was being issued to the men on the day I A'isited them, and 
by the following day, all the men would be well clothed. 

The ra ions issued this regiment have been good and in abundance. 

The hospital department was in very good condition. The only 
difficulty at any time in procuring hospital supplies, was lack of trans- 
portation . 

2 



10 PUBLIC DOCUMENT. 

On the same day (20th of Dec.) I endeavored to visit the batteries, 
but found them so situated and stationed along the bank of the Rappa- 
hannock, guarding the passage of that river, it was impossible for me to 
visit them personally. I, however, obtained the following information 
from Col. Tompkins, who very kindly offered me every facility possible, 
in the prosecution of my object. 

BATTERY A. 

On the 31st of December, four months' pay will be due this battery. 
The muster and pay rolls have been sent in. The only excuse the 
paymaster gives for not paying the men, is want of means. 

Within the past fortnight the men of this battery have been sup- 
plied with clothing throughout. 

BATTERY B. 

The men of this battery have served the same length of time with- 
out pay, as Battery A, and for the same reason. Clothing also issued 
to the men on the same day with the men of Battery A. 

BATTERY C. 

The men of this battery have not been paid off since the 30th of 
June last, for what reason I am unable to say. They are well sup- 
plied with clothing, with a few exceptions, and on their return to 
camp the articles they require will be issued to them. 

BATTERY D. 

The men belonging to this battery have been paid up to 31st of 
October. The men are in need of a few articles of clothing, requisi- 
tions for which are being made, but Capt. Buckly not having assumed 
the command of this battery until within a day or two previous to the 
battle of Fredericksburg, probably accounts for the delay in not fur- 
nishing the men with necessary clothing. 

BATTERY E. 

The men of this battery were paid off one day before the battle, 
and were supplied with clothing on the 18th of Dec. 

BATTERY G. 

The men of this battery have not been paid for four months, the 
reasons for which I am unable to give. The men have been newly 
clothed within ^ fortnight, 



PHYSICAL CONDITION OF THE R. I. TROOPS. 1 1 

To the artillery regiment there is at present no medical officers. 
Dr. Thurston has been detailed for hospital duty at Frederick city, 
Md., and the assistant surgeon Dr. Merrill, has been detained in 
Washington by order of the Surgeon General, who says there is no 
record of his appointment in the Adjutant General's office at Wash- 
ington. Col. Tompkins, however, says his name was forwarded to 
the Adjutant General's office on the last muster roll, (Oct. 31st, 
1862.) 

The men in this (artillery) regiment need socks and mittens, oth- 
erwise they have obtained from the government all of the clothing 
they are entitled to, and a great quantity besides. 

The men subsisted on half rations on their march from Harper's 
Ferry. Since which time the rations issued are good and in sufficient 
quantity. 

On the 20th and 21st of December, I visited the first regiment of 
R. I. Cavalry. This regiment was encamped near Potomac creek, 
about half way between Acquia Creek landing and Falmouth, Va. 
It composed part of a brigade of cavalry under the command of Brig. 
General Averrill. 

Five hundred and one (501) men reported for duty on the first day 
I was with the regiment. Of this number one hundred and fifty 
(150) were dismounted men, and the regiment is put off from day 
to day, with promises of a supply of horses which are not forthcom- 
ing. However, of these 150 dismounted men, fifty (50) are new 
recruits, and fifty (50) are exchanged paroled prisoners. 

This regiment has not been paid off for six months. The muster 
and pay rolls have been promptly sent forward. Since the regiment 
was brigaded, the brigadecommissary has received orders not to trust 
any officer for his necessary subsistence, which certainly is a great 
hardship for the officers. 

The rations issued to the men are good and in sufficient quantity. 
On a march, half rations as a general thing, are issued to the men. 
After General Pope's return to Washington, the men suffered for lack 
of subsistence, being obliged to subsist on the devastated country 
through which they marched. 

Clothing is issued to this regiment in sufficient quantity, but great 
complaint is made of the quality of the articles. Boots have just been 
issued to the men, but they are worth but little, fifteen days' service 
wearing them out. 

Great trouble is experienced in this regiment in procuring the neces- 



12 PUBLIC D0CU3IENT. 

sary suj^plies. After sending forward proper requisitions for the arti- 
cles needed, delay after delay takes place, and when finally the arti- 
cles arrive, they are almost worthless ; this whole trouble has arisen 
since the reoiment was attached to a brigade. No trouble was experi- 
enced in any of these matters when the regiment acted independently. 

A great deal of fault is found with the recruits sent to this regi- 
ment. A greater part of these are afflicted with some physical 
disability, which renders them unfit for service, and I know of no one 
to whom this fault should be attributed, but the medical examiner 
in Pi*ovidence, R. I., whoever he may be. 

The men of the regiment looked neat and tidy, and I heard they had 
learned to take proper care of themselves. 

This includes all of the regiments and batteries from Rhode Island, 
Avhicli are at present with General Burnside's army. 

Upon my visit to these several regiments and batteries, I was par- 
ticularly struck with the contrast between those who had been in the 
field a long time, and those recently recruited and sent forward. The 
men who had been in service the longest, certainly looked the best ; 
their clothing was in better condition, and their whole appearance 
showed a careful attention to personal cleanliness, and attention to the 
preservation of every article properly belonging to them, as well as 
those articles entrusted to their care, and upon the preservation of 
which depends their efficiency as soldiers. 

I don't know as I could suo;o;est but one or two matters which 
might be brought to the attention of the State of Rhode Island, or to 
benevolent individuals of that State, which might inure to the comfort 
and health of our troops, and promote their efficiency in the field. 

If some wav could be devised to send to the Rhode Island regi- 
ments, vegetables, (for instance, potatoes, onions, apples, green or dried,) 
I think the health of our troops would be benefitted. Again, the articles 
of which they all stand in need, are socks and mittens, both of which 
could easily be furnished from Rhode Island. 

Incidentally, in visiting the hospitals in Washington and vicinity, I 
was within a short distance of Battery H., and the 11th R. I. V* 
of infantry, and consequently visited them. 

I visited Battery H. on the 23d of December. It is encamped on 
the Bladensburg road, a little East of the Capitol. It composes a 
part of a camp of instruction for artillery. 

This battery is in fine condition with one exception. It is in great 
need of men. Twenty-nine men deserted within three days after 
reaching Washington. Not one man, however, was a resident of 



PHYSICAL CONDITION OF THE E. I. TROOPS. 13 

Rhode Island. The remaining men went for nothing, and could the 
required number of men be furnished to fill up this battery, it would 
be a very efiective one. 

On December 25th, I visited the 11th regiment R. I. V., now en- 
camped on Miner's Hill in Virginia. 

On that day, eight hundred and fifty-four privates and non-commis- 
sioned ofiicers reported for duty. 

This regiment has not been paid off since leaving Rhode Island, 
though the muster rolls were promptly sent in on the last of October. 
No reason could be assigned for non-payment, excepting the shortness 
of time at which they would be paid at that date. 

Rations are good and in suflicient quantity. 

The men were all well clothed and generally in good condition, and 
were industriously building log huts for their Winter quarters. 

The hospital department of this regiment is in a very good condi- 
tion, The Surgeon has taken a wooden building near by, and fitted 
it up very comfortably for the sick of the regiment. In the hospital 
there are two or three patients who should be discharged, and at my 
suggestion the proper papers are being made out. 

The Surgeon of this regiment and the patients in hospitals, seemed 
to have a dread of a general hospital, and consequently there are a 
number in the regimental hospital who should be immediately sent to 
some general hospital, where there are facilities for taking better care 
of the men. 

I personally made suggestions to have the men removed to some 
general hospital, and I doubt not it will be done. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

DR. LLOYD MORTON, 

Commimoner. 

Washington, D. C, Dec. 28th, 1862. 



REPORT OF THE STATE COMMISSIONER. 



To His Exeelleney the Governor. 

The instructions received by me from the Adjutant General's office, 
dated Dec. 1862, contemplate two reports. The first, of the physical 
condition of our regiments actually in the field ; the other, of the con- 
dition of the hospitals in and around Washington, with a statement of 
what was actually effected wuth reference to the removal of the sick 
and wounded soldiers belonging to the regiments raised and recruited 
by the State of Rhode Island. 

The first report, dated Washington, D. C, December 28th, 1862, 
has already been forwarded to your Excellency, and some of the sug- 
gestions therein contained are now being carried out. Yet, upon re- 
flection, it is deemed the better way to give in this document a brief 
statement of my proceedings, in the pursuit of the objects contem- 
plated in the mission entrusted to me ; thus combining a portion of 
the former report with my views of the present management of the 
hospitals and the treatment of our sick, wounded and invalid soldiei s. 

On the evening of the 16th of December, 1862, I left Providence 
and arrived at Falmouth, Va., on the 18th of the same month, and 
within a few days visited successively the following regiments of R. I. 
soldiers, then attached to the army of the Potomac, viz: 7th, 12th, 2d 
and 4th regiments of infantry, a portion of the first regiment of light- 
artillery, comprising Batteries A, B, C, D, E, and G, and the first 
regiment of cavarly. 

By conversation with the men as well as the officers, it seemed to 
me, a very fair opinion of their circumstances at that time, was arrived 
3t. It was irnpracticable to visit the inen of the batteries, as they 



16 PUBLIC DOCUMENT. 

Avere then on duty guarding the passage of the Rappahannock river, 
and all information obtained with reference to this regiment was kindly 
furnished me by Col. Tompkins. 

The condition of our soldiers then at Falmouth, as a general thing, 
Avas as good as the circumstances of the case would admit of, just recov- 
ering as they were, from the depression consequent upon the recent 
battle. 

More complaint was made of the quality of the articles furnished by 
Government, than of the quantity. As regards clothing, the one arti- 
cle of pants received the most censure, still much oi all the clothing is 
made of such poor material that a few days' wear render it nearly worth- 
less. Shoes of such inferior quality, that in a short march they become 
useless and must be thrown aside. 

The rations at that time were of good quality, the variety Avas not 
very great, yet, upon the whole, but little fault was found with the 
food. Whenever supplies are not forthcoming, it seems to me, the 
fault cannot be attributed to the officers in command of the regiments, 
nor to the Department at Washington, but in some way to interme- 
diate officers, (brigade or divisional). The Cavalry regiment, in 
particular, had no difficulty in procuring whatever was needed, wdien 
it acted independently, but since it has been brigaded, a great deal of 
trouble is experienced in obtaining necessary supplies. 

The recruits sent to our regiments are many of them worthless, 
and, it seems to me, a more careful inspection is necessary before they 
are accepted and mustered into the service. I have yet to learn 
of what earthly use an unsound man is in the military service of the 
United States Government. Pie is not only a useless expense to the 
State and general Government, but an actual burden to the regiment 
to which he belongs — embarrassing its movements and requiring a de- 
tail of able-bodied men to take care of him. 

I would recommend in this connection (as I have before done per- 
sonally) a request be sent by your Excellency, to the Surgeons in 
charge of Medical Department of our regiments, to use their best 
endeavors to procure the discharge of those men Avho are, and will be 
of no use to the government, and if any men are sick in their regi- 
mental hospitals who Avill not be fit for duty Avithin a very short time, 
to have them sent to some general hospital. 

The suggestion made in my former report, to furnish our troops 
with fresh vegetables, is noAV, I understand, being carried out. I 
deem this matter of the utmost importance, and hope, as soon «is this 



PHYSICAL CONDITION OF THE R. I. TROOPS. 17 

supi \ . consumed, another cargo may be forwarded, and thus be 
continued, so long as a smgle Rhode Island soldier is in the military- 
service of the United States. 

A grave cause of complaint exists with reference to the prompt 
payment of our soldiers. The commanding officers of our regiments 
have sent in their muster and pay rolls promptly, with perhaps one or 
two exceptions, and the reason given by the paymaster is, that he has 
no money in his hands to pay the men. 

Nothing discourages and disheartens a soldier so much as to be de- 
prived of his well earned pay, month after month. In some regiments 
which have not been paid for six months, it is a great hardship to the 
officers, who are obliged to pay the Brigade Commissary cash for 
articles necessary for their subsistence. 

Upon my return to Washington, it came directly in my way while 
visiting the hospitals, to see Battery H, and the 11th regiment of 
infantry. 

The same general suggestions apply equally to these commands, as 
to the regiments above specified. 

For more minute particulars I refer you to my former report, 
dated Washington, D. C, Dec. 28, 1862. 

To the officers in command of our regiments I am indebted for great 
kindness and courtesy, particularly to Cols. Bliss, Viall, Tompkins and 
Duffie. Col. Bliss needs no commendation from me, the laurels, won 
at the battle of Fredericksburg, speak su.fficiently in his praise. Cols. 
Viall and Tompkins afforded me every facility in the prosecution of my 
object, and from my short intercourse with them, I judge them to be 
splendid officers, and I doubt not will do the State great credit. 

Last, though by no means least, is Col. Duffie. I made the acquain- 
tance of this officer last summer, at Manassas, and was most happy to 
renew it. 

No one, seeing the efficiency to which he has brought our regiment 
of cavalry, can for an instant doubt the military skiU and ability of this 
frank and generous soldier. 

On Dec. 23d, 1862, I procured an order from the Surgeon General, 
with reference to the transfer of our wounded soldiers fi'om the hospi- 
tals at Washington, to the hospital at Portsmouth Grove, a copy of 
which is herewith enclosed. Upon perusal of this copy, you will per- 
ceive, it does not include the sick in hospitals previous to the battle of 
Fredericksburg. I at once obtained an interview with the Secretary 
of War, and used my best endeavors to have the order extended, so as 
3 



18 PUBLIC DOCUMENT. 

to include all our sick, wounded and invalid soldiers, as contemplated 
in my instructions, tut was infoimed ly Mr. Stanton, the cider was 
peremptory, and for the present could include none other than those 
wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg ; and furthermore, this order 
had received his hearty sanction, as well as that of the Commander-in- 
Chief. 

Upon visitino; the hospitals, it was ascertained a large proportion of 
our sick had been transferred to hospitals in Baltimore, Philadelphia 
and New York, previous to the late battle, and what few remained, 
(always excepting the convalescents,) were too ill to be removed. Sev- 
enty-seven (77) from those wounded at Fredericksburg, in company 
with others, mostly from New England, sufficient to make the num- 
ber two hundred and seventy-nine, were carefully and tenderly embark- 
ed on board the Hospital Transport steamer Daniel Webster, and left 
Alexandria, on the evening of the second (2d) of January, 1863, 
for Portsmouth Grove, where they arrived on the evening of the 5th 
of the same month. 

I came a passenger on board the steamer, and here cheerfully add 
my testimony, to the assiduous attentions given the wounded and sick, 
by all the officers on board, particularly Dr. Hudson, the surgeon in 
charge, and Dr. Tegs, his assistant, than whom I have rarely met more 
intelligent and land hearted surgeons. 

A list of these seventy-seven (77) Rhode Islanders, has already been 
forAvarded to the Adjutant General's office. If any wounded have 
been left behind in Washington, who should have been included in 
the list of those brought to Rhode Island, it must be attributed to the 
great difficulty in collecting men from so many hospitals, (over 60 in 
number, I think,) and to the necessary hurry of departure. In my 
tour of hospital duty, I visited and inspected to the best of my ability, 
twenty-one (21) hospitals, besides the convalescent camps, and the 
camps of distribution at Alexandria. 

A list of the Rhode Island patients in these hospitals, with the 
names of their diseases, and the sifuation of their wounds, is now in 
the Adjutant General's office. Had not the steamer containing our 
wounded, left so soon, I should immediately have visited all the hospi- 
tals in Washington. But as it is, I think a sufficient number have been 
seen, to form a comparatively fair opinion of their general management. 
All our sick and wounded with Avhom I conversed, expressed them- 
selves well satisfied with their treatment, and spoke in the highest terms 
of the medical officers, with only a few exceptions. When we consid- 



PHYSICAL CONDITION OF THE R. I. TROOPS. 19 

er the magnitude of the work, (twenty thousand or more inmates of 
the hospitals in Washington alone,) is it strange some complaint will 
Tie made ? 

The cooking arrangements connected with the hospitals, are in 
good condition, the food abundant and of the proper quality. 

Excepting the Patent Office Hospital, I think the sanitary con- 
dition of every one of these institutions is very good and daily im- 
proving. That portion of the Patent Office, now used for a hospi- 
tal, is damp, cold and unhealthy. In all probability, the patients will 
soon be removed to a healthier location, and, I trust, the use of that 
building for hospital purposes, will for the future be dispensed with. 

The camp at Alexandria, known as the Convalescent and Strag- 
glers' Camp, has recently been divided. The convalescents have been 
removed to a separate camp nearer Washington, and the name of the 
original camp changed. It is now known as the Camp of Distribu- 
tion, where all soldiers discharged from hospitals, or taken up as strag- 
glers, and fit for duty, are sent to await the call of then* respective 
corps commanders. 

The Convalescent Camp I do not think much of, not that anything 
wrong in its management came under my observation, but the principle 
is wrong. If a soldier, discharged from the hospital, is able to sleep on 
the ground under a common tent and cook his own rations, he is cer- 
tainly able to join his regiment and enter upon active duty. If he is 
not able to join his comrades in the field, he should remain in a hos- 
pital, where he may be properly administered to and cared for, until 
he has regained perfect health. 

The registration of the inmates of hospitals is very imperfect. On 
the hst at the office of the Medical Director, consolidated from the 
morning reports of each hospital, are registered what purports to be 
the names of men from the sixth, (6th) eighth, (8th) ninth, (9th) 
and tenth, (10th) R. I. Regiments. If I am correctly informed, we 
never had regiments in the field, numbered repectively, six (6) and 
eight (8). 

The ninth (9th) and tenth (10th) regiments were mustered out of 
service by September last, and there can be no men from these regi- 
ments in hospital. Again, names are registered from our third (3d) 
and fifth (5th) regiments. I doubt very much whether any sick 
from either of these regiments have been brought from Port Royal, 
S. C, or fi:om NeAvbern, N. C, to be admitted into hospitals at Wash- 
ington. 



20 PUBLIC DOCUMENT. 

This imperfect registration was a great disappointment to me ; my 
intention was to obtain a correct list of our soldiers in every hospital, 
for publication in some of our daily papers ; and as I had not time to 
visit all the hospitals, it occurred to me to make use of the Medical 
Director's list. The list at the office of the Sanitary Commission is 
but little better — names from the twenty first (21st) R. I. Regiment 
are there recorded. Accordingly I made arrangements with Prof. 
Jillson, of the R. I. Relief Association, to forward to the Adjutant 
General's Office, a list which is being made out under the auspices of 
that Association, compiled from the reports of tlieir Visiting Com- 
mittee. 

If the State of Rhode Island would make some arrangements with 
the above named Relief Association, by way of compensation, it seems 
to me a correct list of Rhode Island soldiers in hospitals could be 
weekly received, and published for thfe information of those who have 
friends and relations in our regiments, and are often at a loss to learn 
their whereabouts. This is a matter whicli properly belongs to the 
State, and should not be left to be accomplished entirely by the volun- 
tary contributions of the benevolent. 

The jDolicy of transferring the sick and wounded from Washington 
to their respective States is, in my opinion, a doubtful one. Could it 
be demonstrated that the sick would be better cared for in a United 
States Hospital established in Rhode Island, in Connecticut or in Ver- 
mont, (and I believe the transfer is in no case allowed unless the 
United States have a general hospital within the State,) it would be 
a wise movement. But I believe the contrary is the fact. At this 
season of the year, especially, I think our sick are much better off in 
a climate like that of Washington, than they would be here. A very 
large majority of the patients are better cared for there than they 
would be at their own homes. 

This transfer works to the peculiar disadvantage of one class of 
patients, viz. : those who have suffered amputation of the leg or thigh. 
At St. Elizabeth's Hospital, the Government has established the in- 
ventor of one of the most perfect artificial limbs, who is constantly 
employed (at the expense of the United States,) in fitting limbs upon 
those soldiers who have sufficiently recovered from an amputation. 
Why, then, should this class of patients be deprived of this benefit 
by being removed, and in all probability discharged fi-om the service, 
in some hospital remote fi'om Washington ? 

In the history of this war, thus far, there has been, in my opinion, 



PHYSICAL CONDITION OF THE R. I. TROOPS. 21 

no battle where the arrangements for taking care of the wounded 
men, was so well planned, and so faithfully executed, as at the battle 
of Fredericksburg. 

LLOYD MORTON, M. D., 

Commissioner. 
Pawtucket, R. L, Jan. 14th, 1863. 



[COPY.] 

Surgeon G-eneral's Office, 

Washington City, D. C-, 
Dec. 23d, 1862. 
Sir: 

You are requested to select four hundred and fifty (450) soldiers of 
Rhode Island, wounded in the battle at Fredericksburg, and forward them to 
Portsmouth Grove, R. I., provided, you have not already filled up that hospital. 

Very respectfully 

Your obedient servant, 
By order of the Surgeon General, 
(Signed) JOS. R. SMITH, 

Surgeon U. S. Army. 
Surg. R. 0. Abbott, U. S. A. 

Assistant Medical Dh ector, 

Washington, D. C. 



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